Wire bundling machine



June 27, 1933. v W EDI'D S v 1,916,105.

I WIRE BUNDLING MACHINE F iledJan. 23, 1932 13 Sheets-Sheet 1- 1720621807.- MAL/4M 5 650055,

June 27, 1933. w. E. GEDDES WIRE BUNDLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 23, 1932 13' Sheets-Sheet 3 June 27, 1933. w. E. GEDDES' 1,916,105

WIRE BUNDLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 23, 19152 13 Sheets-Sheet 4 192019922797"? IV/LL/fl/W v" 75 June 27, 1933. w. E. GEDDES 1,916,105

WIRE BUNDLING MACHINE Filed Jan; 25, 1932 15 Sheets-Sheet 5 AA; rffor/irya.

June 27, 1933. w GEDDES 1,916,105

WIRE BUNDLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 23, 1932 13 Sheets-Sheet 6 WLL/K/M 5 6500.55,.

June 27, 1933. w, E, GEDDES WIRE BUNDLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 23, 1952 15 Sheets-Sheet a 17106711502: MAL/4M E. 650055 June 27, 1933. w GEDDES 1,916,105

WIRE BUNDLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 25, 1932 13 Sheets-Sheet 9 N 41720972502; /V/44/4M E. 650055,

June 27, 1933. w. E. GEDDES WIRE BUNDLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 23, 1952 is Sheets-Sheet 1o haven/far:

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June 27, 1933. w. E. GEDDES WIRE BUNDLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 25, 1952 13 Sheets-Sheet 11 MM \W MY June 27, 1933.

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WIRE BUNDLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 23, 1932 13 Sheets-Sheet 12 jmemr:

Patented June 27, 1933 UNITED STATE WILLIAM E. GEDDES, F ELL'WOOD CITY, PENNSYLVANIA VJLRE BUNDLING IEACHINE Application filed January 23, 1932. Serial No. 588,376.

My invention relates to rod and wire bundling machines, the function of such a machine being wire into easily handled units. Thisis customarily done by momentarily clamping the loose strands together and applying a tie wire by intertwisting its ends. These t1e w1res are spaced along the strands at sufficiently close intervals to form a more or less firm bundle.

Although the men operating these n1achines try to bend the intertwisted ends of these ties down it has been found quite impossible to prevent their tangling with those of other bundles, tearing workmens hands and being a general nuisance. These ties present further difficulties by sliding along the strands and bunching together, thus destroying their effectiveness.

One of my objects is to provide a bundling machine that binds loose strands of rod or wire together with ties by intertwisting their ends and then burying these ends in the strands. Ties applied in this fashion are anchored against movement along the strand by their intertwisted ends which, at the same time, are placed out of the way where they can do no harm. Other objects will be made apparent by the following disclosure.

Having reference to the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an example of a rod or wire bundling machine constructed according to my invention.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the machine showing its bundle discharging side.

Figure 3 is an elevation showing the end that receives the rod or wire to be bundled.

Figure 4c is a. detail top plan of the tie end twisting and burying mechanisms.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal cross-section of both the tie twisting and burying and tie placing mechanisms.

Figure 7 is a cross-section of the twisting, arbor taken from the line VIIVII of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a cross-section of the same taken from the line VIIIVIII of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a cross-section of the twisting to bind loose strands of rod or arbor showing how the tie end clamping parts are pivoted together.

Figure 10 is a detail side elevation of the tie placing mechanisms, the ties in the mar, chine being described comprising lengths of wire that are cut to size when needed, this figure showing a portion of the feeding mechanism for this wire.

Figure 11 is a cross-section on the line XIXI of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a cross-section on the line XIIXII of Figure 10.

Figure 13 is anend View of Figure 10.

Figure 1 is a detailed elevation of the mechanism that operates the mechanism that squeezes the bunched strands together.

Figure 15 is a cross-section on the line XVXV of Figure 14.

Figure 16 is an elevation of the end oppo-. site that shown in Figure 3. l

Figure 17 is an elevation of the tie wire feeding mechanism and its control, showing the side opposite that shown in Figure 10.

Figure 18 is a cross-section taken from the line XVIII-XVIII of Figure 16, and showing in detail the device that automatically regulates the operation of the mechanisms that shift the strands and discharges them when formed into a bundle.

Figure 19 is a top plan of a portion of Figure 18.

Figure 20 is a cross-section taken from the line XX-XX of Figure 18.

Figure 21 is'a cross-section taken from n the line XXI-XXI of Figure 18. Figure 22 is a side elevation of the clutch operating mechanism that puts the machine into and out of operation. i

Figures 23 and 24 are cross-sections showk ing details of theclutch operating mechanisms shown in Figure 22. v

Figure 25 is a front end elevation of Figure 5.

Figure 26 is a front end elevation of Fig ure 1?.

The machine illustrated by these drawings is designed to bundle straight strands of wire, particularly wire that has been formed into binding wires for use in straw and hay baling machines and thelike.

In detail, this machine consists of a bed or frame 2 supported upon legs 3 and 4 and resting in a floor pan 5. A drive shaft 6 is journaled in bearings 7 and 8 secured to one end of this frame, and a combination cam 9 and crank 10 are carried on one end of this shaft. A ram 11 is slidably positioned in the frame 2 by a gib 12 and has a roller 13 secured to its rear end by a pin 14, this roller being positioned for engagement by the cam 9.

The end of this ram opposite the end carrying this roller is provided with a steel extension 15. As the drive shaft rotates, the cam 9 engages the roller 13 and moves the ram 11 forward.

A gathering slide 16 is mounted opposite this extension in a block 17 secured to the frame 2. This slide is provided with guide rods 18, 19 and 20 which pass through the back of this block and through an adjustable bar 21, this bar being carried on screw thread-ended rods 22 and 23 secured to the block'17. A compression spring 24 encircles the rod 19 and presses against the bar 21 and a plate 25 secured by set screws to the rods 18 and 20. Nuts are engaged on the ends of the rods 22 and 23, holding the bar 21 against the spring 24, putting tension on the slide 16. 1

The ram 11 carries a slide 26 held in position by a gib 27, a connecting-rod 28 being pivoted on a pin 29 to the crank 10 and on a pin 30 to this slide. The cam 9 is constructed so that when the drive shaft 6 is rotated the ram 11 and slide-26 do not change relative positions until the roller 13 has reached the high point on the cam. When this point is reached a tie should be in a position for fastening around the strands to be bundled.

The block 17 carries a pair of fingers 31 and 32 on pins 33 and 34. These fingers are provided with intermeshed segmental gears 35 and 36, the movement of each being thereby made dependent on the other. The gear 35 is fixed to the finger 32 by means of a bolt 37 operating in a slot in the gear, it being thereby possible to adjust the fingers relative positions somewhat. These fingers have projecting ends 38 and Y39 in which grooves 40 and 41 are cut, and are held with these ends apart by a torsion spring 42.

Stationary knives 43 and 44 are secured to the block 17 by binding screws 45 and 46 which pass through elongated slots in the knives, making them adjustable.

A lever 47 projects downwardly from the gear 36 and carries a roller 48 on a pin 49. A plate 50 is positioned between the block 17 and the frame 2 to act as a guide for the gathering slide 16 and a plate 51 is secured to the face of the block 17 on intervening strips 52 and 53 which bring this plate to a position where it acts as a guide and cover for the two fingers 31 and 32.

A rod 54 isfixed to a plate 55 secured to the ram 11 by screws 56 and 57, a block 58 being placed between the plate 55 and the rain to aline the rods end with the roller 48 carried on the end of the lever fixed to the top one of the fingers. A plate 59 is riveted to this red and carries a projecting finger 60 beneath it, this finger being held by screws 61 and 62 which pass through elongated slots in the plate to provide for adjustment.

A bunch of strands of the wire to be bundled being placed between the end 15 of the ram 11 and in line with the gathering slide 16, and the tying wire being alined with the grooves 40 and 41 in the ends of the fingers 31 and 32, it will be seen that by moving the ram 11 forward the tying wire will be forced back through the grooves of the iingers, drawing the tying Wire from the top where an excess is provided for this purpose and pushing the slide 16 back.

As the end of the rod 54 is about to engage the roller 48 to operate the fingers, the projecting finger 60 being moved forward by the ram will engage a tubular knife 219, whose details will be explained later, and push it suiiiciently far to cause the knife 44 to shear the tie wire. The rod 54 then contacts the roller and 32 to more towards each other and carry the tie, that has just been cut, around the bundle. This will place the ends of the tie in 'a position'where they may be grasped by the jaws of a twisting arbor Again referring to the ram 11, a knife 64 is pivoted intermediate its ends on a pin 65 held in a slot in the steel end 15 of the ram. A rod 66 is secured to the back end of this knife by a pin 67,. and passes back through the ram 11. This rod has a right angular head projecting through an opening in the frame 2 so as to engage a pair of angle pieces 68 and 69 secured to the ends of this opening.

Vv hen the ram is retracted the head of the rod 66 engages the angle piece 69, holding theknife substantially parallel to the strands being bundled. When the ram moves forward this head will engagethe angle piece 68, thus forcing the knife 64 into the strands of wire being lmndled. to form a pathway.

A lever 70 is pivoted intermediate its ends on a pin 71 carried by the ram 11 and has an angle bracket 72 which is held against a flat portion cut in the twisting arbor 63 by a torsion spring 73. This holds the mouth of this arbor in a vertical position for the reception of the ends of the tie. As previously stated. the slide 26 and ram 11 move forward together until the roller 13 reaches the high point on the cam'9. when the slide 26 will be individually moved forward by the crank 10. A cam member 7 4 is carried by an angle plate 75 that is bolted to a slotted plate 76 secured and causes the fingers 31 tothe slide 26 through a second angle plate 77. The lever 7 O carries a roller 78, on the 4 I mental gear 93 being th eby lOLd'LGd wel end opposite the end 72, which is engagebeyond the position where the rack it.

able by this cam member. As the slide 26 moves forward the cam member 7 1 coacts with the roller 78 to rock the lever 70 out of engagement with the twisting arbor 63.

The arbor revoluble head '79 carr cam 80 on its forward end which en iiardened pin in the end of a lever 81 to the arbor. the front of the lever arbor forming a mouth 81 which The back end of this at. 79 is fined to a pinion 82, the arbor and being carried on the slide 11 in bearings 1 8st. The arbor 63 has a shank end that oro cts back through the head 79 in l yond the pinion 82, and carries a correcting linger When the arbor been revolved to intertwist the ends of the tie this finger will. project upwardly for locking engagement by the slot in the plate 76.

The pinion 82 is meshed with a gear 86 carried on the end of a shaft 87 which is jonrnaled in bearings 88 and 89 secured to the rain. A bevel gear 99 is mounted on the other end of this shaft and engages second bevel gear 91 ixed to a stnb-shaft 92- whose other end carries asegment-al 93. '1 his latter shaft is jonrnaled in bearings 9 1 and 95, which are also secnr d to the rain.

This segmental gear 93 is engageable by a racl; 96 carried by the slide 26., this rack l'iaving a double tooth 970:1 one end of a series of teeth and a tripple tooth on the opposite end. The lever 81 operating the month of the twisting arbor 53 pivots on a pin 99 held in a slot in the arbor. i the slide 26 moves forward the rack 96 rotates the segmental 93, this rotation being inn parted, by the respective gears and shafts dcscribed to the head 79 of the arbor 63. As this head rotates the cam carried by it en the hardened pin in the end of me lever 81 and forces out, causing tl e month 81 of the arbor to grasp the ends of the tie. Further movement of the slide causes the three-quart re vo has n rips arbor to make one and lution so that the mouth of the arbor will come to rest in a horizontal plane.

A spiral cam member 100 is positioned on the shaft 87 for engagement by the le tooth 97 on the rack 96 this raci ou of mesh with the gear 93, this c the shaft backwards slightly to open month 81 of the twisting arbor and obviating the need of closing the month to mesa the rack 96 with the segnientzl erly when returning to res pot i The racl: is cut short and not coin plete the revolving of the arbor 63 T his done instead by a latch 101 'iivoted on a p i 102 carried on the side of the rack 9-6 latch engaging a log 103 secured to th side of the segmental gear 93 and thus pleting' the revolving ofthe arbo "3, the

The segmental gear 93 is cut to receive the triple tooth 98 of he ra cl: 96, when rotated backwards from its advanced position in order to open the mouth 81 and consequently rerneshes the rack 96, when the some is re tracted, in the proper positionr The latch 101, during this backward movement slides over the lug 103 i position by a tors The twisting or are provided on th ing pieces 105 a prevent the bar passing beyond e' of the cam 80.

it will be seen from description of the machine up to this point that a tie has been wrapped arounn the strands being; bundled and its ends :"ifilltll 81 of the arbor (S3. '1; aroor (33 h s revolved one and three-quarters times t' intertwist these ends and has come to est h its mouth 81 a horizontal open because of he backward turn ven the shaft 8? by the spiral :am 100.

lever is piv ted nearono end on a' a nd sw iv. v

curred to angle pieces 111 and which are 1 se zones being secured to the bearnd Si by their car screws. The end .oqer near this point has a roller 113 pivoted on a pm 114;, the other end of the lever being 'leapl; Wive a bnryguide pieces 11 i t" A plate 11'? is positioned on the pin 10? over the-angle a l rries aroller 118 11 ii zed to the connecting;-rod 120 by a pin 12-1, op )osite and inner end ha 'ing a grooved 1 s Lead 128.

tip end of the lever 107 and projects to a point near the. mouth 81 of the arbor 63. lf'his stripper has a grooved head. 12? and is provided with 1 elongated opening 129 through which s s the head 128 of the burying finger As the'sli-cc orther advances with reo ct to the ra cr 111 pro ection 1-33 e of the slotted plate 13 and forces the end the roller t e lever 10? outwardly. the opposite end carrying burying; finger 115 and stripper being forced towards the end of the arbor 63.- The grooved heal 127 of this stripper is then forced past the mouth 81 of this arbor carrying the intertwisted ends to its retracted pin 108 car ied between mounts 109 and 110' 1 stripper 125 is fixed on a pin 126 to the of the tie therefrom to a position in front of the grooved head 128 of the burying finger 115. The rear end of this burying finger enters the mouth of the arbor and is steadied somewhat thereby. To prevent the tie from moving longitudinally along the strands during this stripping operation, a pair of projections 134 and 135 are carried by the steel .end of the ram 11 so as to engage the tie on both sides of its intertwisted ends.

A plunger 130 is secured by a pin 131 to the slotted plate 76 and is held inwardly by a torsion spring 132. The end of this plunger is shaped to engage the roller 118 on the plate 117, thus rotating the plate in an anti-clockwise direction and forcing the burying finger into the path cut by the knife 64, by means of the connecting-rod 120. The grooved head 128 of the burying finger has now partially buried the intertwisted ends of the tie in the strands. Further movement of the slide 26 and plunger 130 causes the end 122 of the plate 117 to engage the roller 113 secured to the lever 107, this roller having now passed the projection 133 on the edge of the plate 76. The roll-er 113 is there by forced inwardly, causing the other end of the lever 107 to move outwardly, the head 128 of the burying finger 115 now completely burying the ties ends in the strands. This further rotation of the plate 117 causes a pin 136 carried thereon to enter a notch 137 in the outer edge of the plunger 130.

Further rotation of the axle 6 causes the crank 10 to pass its dead center and the slide 26 to begin its return movement. As stated, the pin 136 fixed to the plate 117 is in the notch 137 in the side of the plunger 130 and, as this plunger is drawn backwards, the plate is thereby rotated in a clockwise direction. As this plateis connected to the burying finger 115 by the connecting-rod 120 the finger is withdrawn from the strands by amotion exactly in line with that of its entrance. Vhen once returned these parts are held in position by a spring 138, this spring not being depended upon to return the parts to position.

The roller 113 on the end of the lever 107 is en gagcd by a lever 139 pivotally secured at its back end upon a bushing 140, this bushing being secured between the plate 76 and a guide plate 141 by a bolt 142. This lever 139 has a cam edge 143 that engages a post 144 as the slide moves backwards, the end of this lever engaging the roller 113 forcing the latter inwardly to return the lever 107, which carries the burying finger 115 and the stripper 125, to its normal rest position. The spring 138 has an end 145 that serves to hold the lever 107 in its rest position. \Vhen the slide 26 reaches its rest position with respect to the ram 11, the ram itself begins its return movement. A pair of torsion springs 146 and 147 on the shaft 87 act as shock absorbers for the head 79 of the arbor 63 in both extremes of its movements.

The plunger 130'brings the arbor 63 to a stop at the end of its twisting operation by means of a depending lug 148 which it brings into engagement with the correcting finger 85, the spring 132 absorbing the shock of this impact.

The arrangement for compressing the strands while the tie is being applied consists of a lever 149 rocking on a shaft 150 which is journaled in bosses 151 cast on the leg 4. The top of this lever has a right angular end 152 that is engaged by a roll-er 153 journaled on the pin 29 to the crank 10. The lever carries a dog 154 pivoted on a pin 155 which is secured to a stubby lever 156.

Vhen the lever end 152 is not engaged by the roller 153 on the crank 10 the dog 154 is lifted by a pin 157 secured to the lever 156, which engages an upright 158 carried by an angle piece 159 riveted to the leg 4. A second dog 160 is fixed to the lever 149 by a pin 161, the other end of this pin being secured to a trigger 162. This dog engages a lug 163 fixed to a bar 164, this bar passing between the two dogs 154 and 160.

The bar 164 has a slot 165 through which apin 166 projects, this pin being fixed to the lever 149. As the lever 149 is moved slightly forward by the crank 10, the dog 160 is thrown out of engagement with the lug 163 by means of the trigger 162 which rides in under a projection 167 fixed to the angle piece 159. At the same moment the lever pin 157 is released from engagement with the upright 158, so that the dog 154 may engage one of a series of ratchet teeth 164 out in the bar 164. Both of these dogs are urged to operative position by an interconnecting spring 168. The bar 164 is constantly urged toward the opposite side of the machine by means of a coil spring 169 which is fixed between the pin 166 and a hook 170 secured to the end of the bar. The moment the dog 160 is forced out of engagement with the lug 163, the bar 164 is urged forward, the dog engaging one of the teeth 164 A strand compressing finger 171 is secured on the plate 51, carried by the block 17, by a pin 172. This finger has a long lever end 173 projecting down and fixed to the forward end of the bar 164 by a pin 174. A second 120 strand compressing finger 175 is pivoted to the plate 51 and a pin 177 is fixed to the first finger and carries a roller 178 that contacts the back edge of the finger 175. lVhen the bar 164 is thrust forward by the spring 169 the fingers 171 and 175 will be forced together. When the strands to be bundled are in the machine they are positioned between these fingers and will consequently be held tightly bunched together while the preried by viously described tying operation is being performed. These fingers are reopened, to permit movement of the strands for application of another tie, by a pin 179 that engages a plate 180 fixed to the 164. This pin is secured to a stud 181 fried to a depending plate or bar 182 ann a brace 183, the opposite ends of both depending from and being secured to the ram 11. l hen the rain returns to its rest position the bar 16 1 will return with it, restretching the spring 169 and re-engaging the 160 with the lug The number and of the strand .ietween the two fingers will determine which one of the teeth 1646 the dog 15% will engage during the forwardmotion of the bar 164.

As previously stated, the ties consist of lengths of wire which are cut by the machine. This wire is fed into position by means of a feeding mechanism that is mounted on plate 18% having a bossed hub 185 which rocks on pin 186. this pin being secured to a projection 187 cast on the leg 3. A disk 188 carries a dog 189 on a pin 190 and is rotatably mounted on a stub shaft 191. This shaft also carries a gear 192 fixed to a ratchet w 19b that is engaged by the dog 189, this gear and ratchet wheel being free to rotatewith respect to the disk 188 were it not for the latters engagementby the dog 189. This gear 192 is meshed with a pinion 19 1 carried by a shaft 195 that is journaled in bushings in a bracket 196, car the plate 18 and the plate itself. The shaft 195 projects through to the other side o the plate 18 1 and carries a feed roller 197 to which is centrally secured a gear 198 whic rotates with the shaft. A ear 199 is centrally secured to a feed I011 200 and is journaled on a pin 201 that is fixed to a lever 202. The upper endof this lever is pivotally fixed on a pin 203 carried by a lug 204 that fixed to the top of the plate 18%.

" The ears 198 and 199 intermesh and drive the feed rolls 197 and 200 together. To prevent the feed rolls 197 and 200 from rotating backwards a dog 205 is pivoted on a pin 206 carried by an arm 207 that is fixed to the plate 18% by nut on the shank of the stub shaft 191. This dog is also in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 193.

The tie wire is straightened, before it enters the feed rolls 197 and 200, by means of a set of straightening rolls 208, 209 and 210 that are rotatively carried by pins 211, 212 and mounted on plate 184. A guide 214, secured to the plate 18% below the straightening rolls, by a belt 215, is drilled perpendicularly to receive the tie wire which is thus held in alinement with the straightening and feeding rolls. A sharp ended dog 216 is pivoted on a pin 217 that is fixed to the plate 184 and is forced against the tying wire by a torsion spring 218. The upper end of the guide 211 is cut away to permit the entrance of this dog, this cutting also forming a flat section on the guide against which the wire is pressed by the dog so that the latter can secure a firm grip and prevent the wires backward movement through the guide.

The lug 204 that is fixed to the top of the plate 184 carries a tubular knife having a bore that is alined with the feed rolls 197 and 200 and the grooves in the projecting ends of the iii-igers 31 and 32. The upper end of. this knife is in shearing engagement with the fixed knife 44 and, when the projecting finger attached to the ram 11 engages this knife, the entire feeding mechanism carried by the plate 184k rocks slightly, causing the wire to be out,

A bar 220 is siidably mounted in the block 17 and has a groove 221 in alinement with the grooves in the ends of the fingers 31 and 32, this grooved bar forming a guide for the tie wire when being fed upwards. A depending bar 222 is fixed to this bar 220 and a rod extendsfrom its back end through a bore, 22 1 being the number of a spring in the block 17 ,with a head 225 on its back end. This head is pressed against the block 17 by a spring'22el. The bar 220, being directly in the path of the strands being bundled, must be moved back when these strands are being compressed by the fingers 171 and 175, this being done by the bar 222 which is engaged by a pin 226 on the rod 54:. I

To better control the strands being bundled, a plate 227, having a frontend similarly shaped and alined with the gathering slide 16, is fixed at its rear end to the plate 25, this plate therefore moving with the slide 16. When the strands to be bundled are pushed back into the tie wire there may remain an excess of the tie projecting above the knife 13. This is cut off by a knife 228 secured to a bracket 229 fixed to the ram 11. This knife cooperates with the fixed knife 13 to shear the tie and is preferably ground at an angle with its line of motion so that the cut end of the tie will be thrown clear of the machine. The knife 228 is secured to the bracket 229 by a screw 230, thisscrew passing through an elongated hole in the knife to provide. for its adjustment. 1 Before the tie wire goes into the feeding device just described, it passes beneath a shoe 281 carried on the lower end of a lever 232. This lever is pivoted a short distance from its upper end on the pin 181', and this upper end is secured through a pin 233 to a link 23d that is pivoted on a pin 235 carried by a boss in the leg 4. The shoe 231 is moved forward by the ram 11 and plate 182 to draw the necessary amount of wire from a supply reel. This amount may be varied by changing the leverage ratio of the rod 232'.

The tie wire feeding device is operated by a link 236 that is pivotally secured on a pin 237 to the disk 188. The other end of this link is slidably arranged on a pin 238 fixed to the plate 182, this pin passing through a slot in the link. A block 239 is clamped to the link 236, at its end closest to the disk 188, so as to project back and over a portion of this slot. This block is adapted to engage the pin 238, limiting its motion in the slot. The extent that this block limits the 'movement of this pin determines the amount the disk 188 is rotated and, consequently, the number of teeth on the ratchet wheel 193 engaged by the dog 189.

In order that the strands being-bundled might have time to be moved clear from the path of the upwardly feeding tie wire, by

' means of the gathering slide 16 and plate 227,

the pin 238 moves idly through the slot in the link 236 for a portion of the backward motion of'the ram 11. Upon the engagement of this pin with the endof the slot in the link 23 that is opposite the block 239, the disk 188 will be rotated. As the dog 189 engages the ratchet wheel 193 fixed to the gear 192, the latter is also rotated. This motion causes the fed rolls 197 and 200 to feed a new length of tie wire into position.

The drive shaft 6 carries a sprocket wheel 240 connected by a chain 241 to a second sprocket wheel 242, the second wheel being mounted on a drive shaft 243 positioned near the floor in bearings 244 and 245. These bearing are secured to the floor pan 5. The end of this drive shaft carries a crank 246. A link 247 is fixed by pins 248 and 249 to universal joint blocks 250 and 251, the block 250 being pivoted on a pin 252 to the crank 246 and the block 251 similarly fixed to a lever 253 by a pin 254. This lever rocks on a stub shaft 255 and carries a dog 256 having a tail end 257, the latters front end being adapted to engage a ratchet 258 fixed to the hub of a large sprocket wheel 259. The lever 253 and this large sprocket wheel are position-ed by collars 260 and 261, and the ends of this stub shaft 255 are carried by bosses 262 and 263 east in the legs 3 and 4.

The sprocket wheel 259 is connected to a smaller sprocket wheel 264 by a chain 265. This smaller sprocket wheel rotates on a stub shaft 266 mounted, on a leg 267, this leg being secured to the floor and strengthened by a brace 268. This stub shaft 266 passes through an elongated hole in the leg 267, so that slack in the chain 265 might be taken up, and positions the wheel 264 to hold the top length of the chain 265 in a parallel position.

A strip of channel iron 269 has one end carried by the leg 267 and the other by the frame 2 so as to be parallel to and a little bit above the top parellel' length of the chain 265. This channel carries sheaves 270, pivoted on pins 271, by means of depending brackets 272. These sheaves prevent the top length of the chain 265 from sagging out of position and are supplied in numbers suitable to the extent of this length. A shaft 273 is alined with the channel iron 269 above and a little distance from its open side. This shaft is rigidly positioned at one end by the frame 2 and at the other by a leg 274, this leg being braced to the leg 267 by an angle member 275.

A plate 280 having an open throat 281 is rockably and slidably carried by the shaft 273. The open throat of this plate is alined with the previously described strand tying mechanism and is adapted to engage the ends of a bunch of strands being tied. In the case of many manufactured wire articles, the strands ends are shaped to permit this engagement but, if not, the strands ends may be temporarily bound by hand so that the open throat of this plate may engage the bindings. A depending finger 282 is riveted to the bottom of the plate 280 so as to engage the chain 265 when this plate is rocked downwardly. A bracket 283 is fixed to the plate near this finger and carries a roller 284 projecting into the open face of the channel iron 269, this limiting the rocking motion of the plate. lVith each complete revolution of the drive shaft 6 this plate, when in engagement with the chain 265, will be shifted a distance equal to one-third of the circumference of the sprocket wheel 259. This will be done because the interconnected shaft 243 will also be revolved a complete revolution, operating the dog 256 and the three-toothed ratchet 258.

A depending rod 285 is fixed to the plate 280 at its upper end and to a sash cord 286 at its lower end, this cord passing around a sheave 287 pivoted on a pin 288 fixed to a bracket 289. This bracket is secured to the under side of the frame 2 by a clamp 290. This sheave changes the angle of the cord so that it can extend upward for connection to a weight. The plate 280 is normally held in raised position by a counterweight 291 that 'is fixed to the plate by an arm 292. When the ends of the strands being bundled are placed in the open throat 281, this plate will be rocked downward so as to engage with and be moved by the chain 265. When these strands are discharged from the machine this plate will automatically rock upward to chain disengaging position and be returned by the weight fixed to the sash cord 286.

The device that discharges the strands, when bundled, from the machine includes a shaft 293 rocking in bearings 294 and 295.

The bearing 294 is carried by a bracket extension 296 cast in the frame 2, and the hearing 295 is carried by a leg 297 that is secured to the floor and strengthened by a brace 298. The shaft 293 carries a number of discharging arms 299, 300, 301 and 302. These arms have curved ends which rest below the normal path of the wire strands, as they are 

